Safety block



June 2 1927' w. H. MQKISSICK SAFETY BLOCK Filed Nov. e. 1925 2 sum -Sheer. 1

1,633 489 June 21, 1927. w. H. MCKISSICK SAFETY BLOCK Filed Nov. 6, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 nwntot atiozmq Patented June 21, 1927.

UNITED STATES p 1,633,489 PATENT OFF-ICE.

WILLIAM H. MCKISSICK, OF TULSA,.'OKLAHOMA.

SAFETY BLOCK.

A lication filed November 6, 1925. Serial m. 67,227.

member may be shifted or displaced laterally of the other, thus openin r thecable' channels on each side of the pu ley to permit a free stringing or unstringing'of the cable, without danger of injury to the hands of the workman.

A further object of the invention is to provide a separator at the upper end of the block and within the same, so that the workmans hands or fingers cannot be drawnin between the sheave and the cable.

Another object of the invention is to provide handles on opposite sides of the block for readily handling the same.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a block constructed in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the block open,

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the same,

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a transverse cross-sectional View taken on the line 77 of Fig. 1 showing the housing closed, and I Fig. 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. 3 showing the housing open. a

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates a clevis which is pivoted to the upper ends of hanger straps or bars 11 and 12 respectively. by a bolt 13 passing through the apertured ends of said parts. The bar 11 is suitably secured along oneside of a housing member 14; while the other bar 12 is suitably fastened along the outer side of the other housing member 15. The barsmay be riveted to the sides of the housing or otherwise fastened. The apertured ends of the bars extend substantiall an equal distance beyond the top of the b ock.

covered by the housing. B

The housingmember 14 has a lip or ex tension 14 pro ecting downward beyond the lower edge of the member 15. The bar 11 is bent to form a hook loop lb'depending from the lip; while the bill 17 of the hook extends upwardly and overlaps the lower PIOJBCtlIlg' end of the bar 12. The lower end of the bar 12 is bent inwardly at substantlally right an les to form a keeper 18 within the hook. he bar 12 andthe bill 17 have registering apertures 19 for receiving a locking pin 20 WhlCh also penetrates thelip 14 and the bar 11. The pin has an eye connected to one end of a short chain 21 secured to a small post 22 which is riveted in the bar 12 and the member 15. This pin is secured in place by a cotterkey 23 passing therethrongh at the inner side of the bar 12 and attached to a chain 24.

The housing members 14 and 15- are pref- I erably formed of flat plates, but .this is subject to variation. The member 14 has inturned. guard flanges 25 along each vertical edge; while the member 15 has similar guard flanges 26 along each vertical edge. The flanges 25 are directed toward the flanges 26, but. clearance is left between their edges. A short axle 27 penetrates the parts 11 14, 15.and 12 andis suitably secured in p ace.

A sleeve or pulley 28 is mounted on the axle within the housing. The axle is located eccentrically with relation to the vertical axis or center line of the housing, being in the present instance displaced to the left (Figs. 1 and 3).

It will be seen that when the parts are in their normal position as is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7 the guard flanges 25 and 26 are alined so that their sides are substantially flush. By this structure a practical and efiicient block housing is provided and the cable (not shown) 1s properly retained and removing the bolt 13 and the in 20 the c evis 10 may be detached from t e bars 11 and 12 and the lower end of the bar 12- is freed from the bill 17 of the hook loop 16.; Of course the block will have to be placed in a horizontal position as on the derrick floor or otherwise supported, when the clevis is removed.

With the pin and bolt-removed the block housing may now be opened by grasping one end of the bar 12 and rotating the housing member 15 with respectto the member 14. The member 15 isgiven a half turn which brings it to the position shown in Figs. 3,

4, and 8, whereby the block is opened. Due

' to the eccentric or oflset mounting of the member 15 on the axle it is of course displaced laterally, with relation to the member 14, when rotated. This causes the flanges 26 to be shifted to the left (Figs. 3 and 8) and thus spaced from the flanges 25, whereby longitudinal openings are provided along each side of-theblock so that the cable may be easily and safely inserted in the bloc on each side of the sheave or removed therefrom. The block is closed by turning the member 15 back to the position and replacing the parts 10, 13 and 20.

One of the important features of the invention is a line guard at the top of the block. .This guard is shown as composed of complementary yokes 29 and 30 respectively, the yoke 29 being riveted to the inner face of the memberl t and the yoke 30 being.

riveted to the inner face of the member 15. Each yoke has its under face or edge curved concentric to .the sheave 28 and in close Various changes in the size and shape of 'the different parts, as well as modifications be made within the proximity thereto; while each end of the yoke is rounded. These yokes not only separate the vertical lines of the cable between the sheave and clevis but prevent the hands or fingers of the workman from being drawn in between sheave and the cable. Each yoke has substantially same thickness but are spaced sufli'ciently to cleareach other when the block is opened. When the block is opened the yoke 30 will be carried to the bottom of the block as is shown in Fig. 6. A useful feature resides in U-shaped handles 31 secured to the outer face of each block member near the upper end of the housing. This provides a ready handhold for theworkman and makes for safety. It is to be understood that a plurality of sheaves may be mounted in the housing.

and I altferalfions ma scope o t e appen ed claims.

What I claim, is:

1. In a safety block, a block housing comprising two members pivoted to each other eccentrically, one of said members being rotatable with relation to the other to open the sides of the housing, and a sheave mounted in the housing.

2'. In a safety block, a block housing comprisingtwo members pivoted to each other I eccentrically, one of said members being rotatable with relation to the other to open the sides of the housing, and a sheave mounted in the housing, and means for locking the members against rotation.' 3. In a safety block, a housing comprising two members eccentrically pivoted together and each having inturned side guard flanges, said flanges normallybeing substantially in registration with each other to close the housing, one of said members being rota- "two members each havin table with relation to the other to displace housing memberscarried by the bars, in-' turned flanges at each end of the members,

separator yokes at the tops of the said members, an axle passing through the members off of their vertical centers, one of said members being rotatable on the axle with relation to the other member, a sheave journaled on the. axle, a hook on the lowerend of one of the side bars overlapping the lower end of the other bar, anda locking pin passing through said overlapping parts.

5. In a safety block, a housing comprising inturned; guard flanges along each side, t e flanges of one member normally alined and registered with the flanges of the other member, oneiof said members being dis laceable parallelly to the other to move the anges out of registration and open channels alon .each side of the housin a sheave in the ousing, and means for 100 mg the members in their closed position.

. 6. In a safety block, a housing comprising two side members each provided with flanges directed inwardly at substantially rightangles thereto, said flanges terminating short of the to and bottom of said side members, whereby said "members have top and bottom openings between the upper and lower edges of said flanges, the flanges of one mem er being directed toward those of the other member, whereby the adjacent edges of said flanges are in proximity to each other and said flanges constitute guards for retaining the cable lines within the housing, one of said members being rotatable to open the guards and permit the passage of cable lines between said flanges, and a sheave mounted in the housing.

7.. In a safety sheave block, a housingcomprising two upright sidemembers, a sheave 3ournaled wholly within the housing, said side members extending above and below the sheave, and inwardly directed guard flanges carried by the side members of the housing and extending transversely of the groove of the sheave,

said flanges being located on opposite sides of the vertical axis of the block, the flanges'of one I housing member being contiguous to the flanges of the other housing member, the

contiguous edges of the flanges being close enough to prevent the cable lines passing therebetween, one of said housing members being movable with relation to the other housing member to displace its flanges from the flanges of the other housing member, whereby the contiguous edges of said flanges are separated sufliciently to form hne gaps on each side of the housing wide enough to permit the passage of cable lines there through.

8. In a safety sheave block, a housing comprising two upright side members, a sheave journaled wholly within the housing, said side members extending above and below the sheave, and inwardly directed guard flanges carried by. the side members of the housing and extending transversely of the groove of the sheave, said flanges being located on opposite sides of the vertical axis of the block, the flanges on one housing member being contiguous to the flanges of the other housing member, the contiguous edges of the flanges being close enough. to prevent the cable lines passing therebetween,

one of said housing members being rotat-' able with relation to the other housing member to displace its flanges from the flanges of the other housing member, whereby the contiguous edges of said flanges are separated sufliciently to form line gaps on each side of the housingwide enough to permit the passage of cable lines therethrough.

9. In a safety sheave block, a housing comprising two upright side members, a sheave journaled wholly within the housing, said side members extending above and below the sheave inwardly directed guard flanges carried by the side members of the housing and extending transversely ot the groove of the sheave, said flanges being located on opposite sides of the vertical axis of the block, the flanges of one housing member being contiguous to the flanges of the other housing member, the contiguous edges of the flanges being close enough to prevent the cable lines passing therebetween, one of said housing members being rotatable with relation to the other housing member to displace its flanges from the flanges of the other housing member, whereby the contiguous edges or said flanges are separated sufliciently to form line gaps on each side of the housing wide enough to permit the passage of cable lines therethrough, the

10. In a safety sheave block, a support, a I

housing carried by said support and comprising two upright side members, a sheave journaled wholly within the housing, said side members extending above and below the sheave, and inwardly directed guard flanges carried by the side members of the housing and extending transversely of the groove of the sheave on opposite sides of and above and below its pivot, the flanges of one housing member being contiguous to the flanges of the other housing member,the contiguous edges of the flanges being close enough to prevent the cable lines passing therebetween, one of said housing members being movable with relation to the other housing member to displace its flanges from the flanges of the other housing member whereby the contiguous edges of said flanges are separated sufficiently to form line gaps on eachside of the housing wide enough to permit the passage of cable lines therethrough.

11. In a safet sheave block, a support, a housing carried prising two upright sidemembers, a sheave journaled wholly within the housing, said side members extending above and below the sheave, inwardly directed guard flanges carried by the side members of the housing and extending transversely of the groove of the sheave on opposite sides of the support, the flanges of one housing member being contiguous to the flanges of the other housing member, the contiguous edges of the flanges being close enough to prevent the cable lines passing therebetween, one of said housing members being movable with relation to the other housing'member to displace its flanges from the flanges of the other housing member whereby the contiguous edges of said flanges are separated sutflciently to form line gaps on each side of the housing wide enough to permit the passage of cable lines therethrough, a top clevis connected to the upper end of the support and suspending it, and a bottom loop connected to the bottom of the support.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM n.v MOKISSICK;

by said support and com- 

